Just when you thought the Florida Christmas postings were over . . . they’re not! I have just one more Florida story to share.
On the second day of our visit, Meagan and Nathan hosted their family’s weekly dinner. After we had all enjoyed a tasty spaghetti dinner, Meagan said she had put together a Secret Santa (also called Dirty Santa) game, mainly for the kids since they love unwrapping presents so much.
Although I am aware that the Hawley family does most things in a wonderfully spirited fashion, this particular edition of the Secret Santa game seemed unusual in that it was getting more and more intense as the moments went by. That struck me as a little odd since Meagan had mentioned that all the gifts were just fun, token items and nothing to get too excited about.
When the time finally came to stop the swapping and launch into the opening, the children opened their gifts first, followed by Meagan and her sisters, their husbands, and Sarah. And then, with a little extra zing reverberating in the already electrified atmosphere, Frank and Sheri and Steve and I were invited to open our gifts which had made their circuitous way to our laps.
When we had all removed the wrapping paper, what to our wondering eyes should appear but matching t-shirts! I stared at my shirt in some bewilderment because I was seeing the word “grandchildren” written on the shirt along with the number “3.” Since we only have two grandchildren, I was in the midst of wondering how Nathan and Meagan could have made such a big mistake on our Christmas present when it suddenly dawned on me: Meagan is pregnant!
As you can imagine, when the news finally sank in there were whoops, laughter, tears, shouts, hugs and generalized hilarious rejoicings.
As it turns out, the Non Senior Adult People (Meagan’s sisters and brothers-in-law) had all been in on the plot. They had been diligently working to make sure that certain presents were passed along to certain people so that when all the swapping came to an end, the four matching t-shirts would end up with the appropriate person and have the appropriate number of grandchildren written on each one. So that explained all the super-charged intensity in the atmosphere.
Of course, we Senior Smawleys (Smawley is our nickname for the blending of the Smiths and Hawleys) had to immediately model the newest additions to our wardrobes that announced the newest addition to our families.
We posed with the two amazing people who keep on presenting us with even more amazing (little) people.
Frank and Sheri recently found out their oldest daughter is also expecting a child–her first! So this year, they are going from six grandchildren to eight.
This particular pregnancy announcement was extra, extra special because it was the first pregnancy that Nathan and Meagan got to tell us about in person. It was also the first pregnancy announcement where all four grandparents were in the same room. A magnificent moment, indeed.
Meagan is such a beautiful pregnant lady and Sheri and I are certainly two proud mamas! (By the way, she is due August 4.)
Smiling Smawley Men were everywhere!
Congrats were everywhere, too!
Here are the Grinning Grandmas. (Sounds like a singing group.)
In these next two pictures, the Male Smiling Senior Smawleys were discussing whether they should suck in their stomachs or not . . .
which caused the Female Smiling Senior Smawleys to engage in a good bit of giggling.
We eventually settled down and got an official Smiling Senior Smawley Grandparent Picture.
I posted this picture in an earlier post but wasn’t able to share the context with you. Now I can tell you that the picture was taken shortly after we had heard the news. Our girl will be Aunt Sarah three times over!
This is the picture Meagan posted this morning on her Facebook announcement.
Her caption said:
This is how they wanted to tell about their new baby. They are fascinated that it is growing in mommy’s belly. They love to talk to it and ask everyday when it is coming out.
(By the way, even though the post title references Senior Smawleys, I couldn’t use a picture of the four Seniors as the featured photo at the top of the page since the t-shirts would have given away the news. So that’s why the Junior Smawley pictured was recycled from another post and shared instead.)
Here is a little bonus: a video of The Very Moment!
So from ALL the Smiling Smawleys to you–there’s your dose of good news for the day!
Congratulations!!! What a clever way to tell you. The expression Noah’s face is priceless!
Kari,
Yeah, Noah can come up with some good expressions!
quite clever! how exciting for all of you.
Aug. 4th is my husband’s b-day.
I doubt that his grandparents had any special t-shirts anticipating his arrival.
Mrs. Pam,
You’re so right. Back in those days, pregnancy announcements were generally a little more low key–but I know the joy and excitement were all the same!
Congratulations, Best Wishes and Happiness to all who share in glorious news. ❤️ Fred & Lucy
Fred and Lucy,
Thanks for the happy wishes from people who know from experience just how wonderful grandparenting is!
What a beautiful way to start the new year. Sherri caught on pretty quickly. It is funny because I was reading back on some of the stories where Megan has always been called the baby whisperer and how she wanted oodles of babies and I was wondering whether there would be more or now. So glad to see there will be at least one more.
Mel,
Yes, Sheri was definitely on the ball when it came to figuring out what was going on. I was still in proof reading mode wondering why they didn’t catch that mistake on the number of grandkids we have. 🙂
How wonderful for the entire family. Blessings.
Sharyn,
Wonderful, indeed. We are so excited about our growing family!
What wonderful, exciting news!! I am so happy and excited for all the Smawleys!
SueEllen,
Ye, the Smawleys are definitely smiling! 🙂
Congratulations! How exciting
Thank you, Wendy!
A round of congrats to you all! Such happy news!
CJ,
I love days that contain happy news; the best kind. Thanks for the congrats!
Congrats! That’s wonderful news and how special to have it announced that way! We are tickled to be the great grandparents!
Vernie,
And you are such a GREAT great grandma. Love you!
Congrats to y’all. Wonderful Christmas gift. Now the year will be full of great things and memories. God bless with a healthy Meagan and healthy baby. Looking forward to “progress” pictures. ??????? What a great way to announce to all. So glad you could be there in person this time for the announcement. Pictures are fantastic.
Ann,
Progress pictures really are fun. Glad you liked the announcement; Nathan and Meagan did a great job putting that together.
WOW!! Congrats!! So very happy for y’all!! Best Christmas present ever! I’m sure!!
Catherine,
Yes, it definitely made our Christmas sparkle!
Congratulations!!! I’m so very very happy for your family! A new little gift from God!! New babies are so special!! ???
Jenna,
A gift, for sure. New babies still have a little of the scent of heaven about them.
Such exciting news today! Congrats to all on this exciting event!
Cindy,
Thank you for doing some long distance happy dancing with us. 🙂
Oh WOW!!! Congratulations! So glad that all the grandparents were able to celebrate together!
Donna,
It was definitely special to finally have the chance to hear the news all in one room.
Congratulations to ALL the Smawleys!! What wonderful news and such a cute, creative and fun way to tell it! 🙂
LeeAnne,
All the Smawleys are STILL smiling!
Congratulations on grandchild/niece or nephew number 3 for the Smith’s and number 8 for the Hawley’s!
This is not my story but a friend’s. This was Christmas of 2015. She like Sheri has 3 daughters and had two grandchildren with one on the way. Unbeknownst to her, number 4 was also on the way. Grandbaby number 3 was due in April. For Christmas, the girls gave her one of those necklaces where the birthstones are kind of floating in a circle – or maybe a heart. Well, they had put the 4th birthstone in. She of course got it right away. She sent a picture to me and I questioned why there was another birthstone. Her sister wasn’t quite as quick to understand. She ended up having all 3 of her daughters give birth to 3 granddaughters within a year’s time – April 2016, August 2016 and March 2017.
Phyllis,
Three grandchidren in a year? Definitely a year to remember. And I love the idea of a floating birthstone necklace. Sounds beautiful.
Priceless! ?❤️
Thank you, Cheryl!
I know you just a little about the joys of grandmothering, yourself! It’s a grand adventure.
I am so happy for you all!!! Nothing like those Grands! I only have one and he is 17.
Judy,
When you only have one, I know you treasure him all the more.
EEEEEEEEK! I am so happy for you all! And what a fun way to announce it! Congrats and Lord’s Blessings to all of the Smawley’s!
btw… when the Grinning Grandpa’s go on tour, please post the tour dates, I’d love to see them live!
Krista,
The Grinning Grandmas AND Grandpas need to do a tour. That would be a whole lot of fun!
Agreed!
Woohoo! Congratulations to all. Love the pictures, such happiness.
Lesley,
Yes, getting to take (and show) pictures just adds to the great joy.
I love seeing photos of your granddaughter on FB, especially when she is with Sarah. Too precious.
Oh my!!! How exciting for you!
Do you know if they plan to find out whether they’re having a boy or a girl?
Stefanie,
They were kind of toying with the idea of NOT finding out since they already have one of each. But they haven’t really made up their minds yet.
I know all Grandparents are so proud in this announcement! Three and counting!
Jim,
Three is a great number, isn’t it?
So super stoked at the spectacularly scintillating Smawley scoop! ?❤
Love, Deb
Deb, you use such fancy big words and start em off with same letter! Fancy!
Deb,
Very impressive alliterating! I will have to take lessons.